Independent schools ‘pleased’ to continue teaching
The National Alliance of Independent School Associations (Naisa) says it is pleased that President Cyril Ramaphosa has excluded independent schools from the decision to halt the academic year for four weeks in August.
On Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that all public schools will close their doors as the country enters the Covid-19 peak.
Naisa chairperson Mandla Mthembu says teachers at independent schools do not have the same benefits as those in the public sector.
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“While we recognise that the arguments for the closure of public schools may have some merit, the context and conditions under which independent schools operate demand that they be treated differently.
“Most schools have implemented salary cuts for staff and there have been reports of staff retrenchments.
“Further closures of schools could very well result in many schools closing, with resultant job losses for teachers and learners having to be accommodated in already crowded state schools.”
The decision by President Cyril Ramaphosa to shut down public schools for over a month has been met with criticism from the some unions and opposition parties.
The National Professional Teacher's Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) says this decision to separate the private and public schools will only serve to further exacerbate the inequality gap